Clinical Trials
The Kentucky Clinical Trial Network
The Kentucky Clinical Trials Network (KCTN) is a centerpiece in the enabling legislation that states the Governance Board will “establish a statewide clinical trial network to make university-based clinical trials available to the community physician in order to bring the most innovative cancer treatments to all Kentuckians in need of these treatments.”
Network members visited several clinical trial networks and cooperative groups to study existing infrastructures, seek guidance regarding unique development paths, and establish relationships that facilitate reciprocal and continuing communication. Visits to lead groups included Duke, Vanderbilt, Hoosier Oncology Group (HOG) and the Geriatric Oncology Consortium (GOC). Each research group is unique in structure and has strengths mirrored in the final design of the KCTN.
Public meetings were held in Bowling Green and Frankfort to discuss the development of a network. The Network Coordinating Center is located at the University of Kentucky with the University of Louisville being an equal partner in development and support.
Leadership for the KCTN’s activities initiates with the Governance Board Chairman, the Network Medical Director, Network Director, the KLCR UK Program Coordinator and a practitioner-based Network Committee. The Network Committee conducts scientific and ethical reviews of studies submitted for consideration and makes final decisions on whether to open a study. Kentucky practitioners felt that this structure would have the flexibility and freedom needed to establish this new statewide venture.
The KCTN vision, developed by the healthcare community, continues to drive network strategies to assure an alliance of regional, local, and university hospitals and community physicians united in the delivery of clinical trials throughout the Commonwealth. The network is an autonomous organization guided by the interests of multidisciplinary healthcare professionals; including medical oncologists, radiologists, and surgeons involved in developing/conducting innovative treatments for lung cancer patients.
As a continually developing program, the Network leadership team, Dr. Tim Mullett as Medical Director, Ms. Kris Damron, Network Director, Dr. Bonnie Sigafus, KLCR Program Director and Dr. Harry Carloss, KLCR Governance Board Chair are building a true collaboration across disciplines to use clinical and scientific expertise and existing resources to design and execute innovative and effective projects.
Click here to go to the Kentucky Clinical Trials Network website.
Learn More About Clinical Research:
University of Kentucky - Clinical Research Office
University of Louisville - Office of Research
Human Participant Protections Education for Research Teams - NCI